asked the Minister for Health if the dental examinations and treatment available to primary school pupils are adequate; and if an annual check-up should be provided for pupils.

The level of the dental service available to primary school children varies from health board to health board and indeed in some cases between different areas of the same health board. While the service may be adequate in some areas, it is less than adequate in others, due mainly to a shortage of dental staff in the health boards. The general embargo on the creation of additional posts in the public service prevents the health boards from employing additional dentists at present. The health boards do not have the dental manpower resources necessary to provide an annual check-up for all pupils of national schools. To attempt to provide such annual check-ups would only deflect very scarce dental staff from the delivery of dental treatment and cause a general disimprovement in the level of service available.